Purpose: To study the in vivo role of MEK kinase 1 (MEKK1) in corneal development.
Methods: Wild type and Mekk1DeltaKD/DeltaKD mice eye tissues were examined by staining with hematoxylin and eosin for morphogenesis and Masson's trichrome for extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. The cells expressing ECM gene transcripts of Collagen I, Keratocan, and Lumican in corneal stroma were identified by in situ hybridization and the level of Collagen I mRNA in the developing cornea was quantified by real-time RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry staining was employed to study the expression and N-terminal phosphorylation of c-Jun and the expression of epithelium differentiation markers and intercellular structural proteins of the corneal epithelium.
Results: Mekk1DeltaKD/DeltaKD mice exhibited the "eye open at birth" phenotype (EOB), and developed eye defects and severe pathology secondary to impaired eyelid formation. The corneal stroma of Mekk1DeltaKD/DeltaKD fetuses, although exhibiting normal morphology, thickness, and keratocyte proliferation, showed reduced extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation, corresponding to a decrease in transcription of Lumican, Keratocan, and Collagen I. Immunohistochemistry studies demonstrated that MEKK1 ablation caused a remarkable reduction in the expression of occludin and zonula occluden protein-1 (ZO-1), components of tight junction, but had no effect on the expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin for adherens junctions, desmoplakin and desmoglein for desmosomes and cytokeratins 12 and 14 for cornea-type epithelial differentiation in the developing cornea. c-Jun was abundantly expressed in the developing corneal epithelium and its phosphorylation was considerably reduced in Mekk1DeltaKD/DeltaKD fetuses.
Conclusions: In addition to its role in eyelid morphogenesis, MEKK1 is crucial for corneal development such that its ablation caused a reduction of ECM deposition in corneal stroma and disturbance of tight junctions in corneal epithelium. c-Jun phosphorylation in corneal epithelium is a downstream event of the MEKK1 pathway, likely contributing to corneal development and function. Altogether, MEKK1 plays a major role in ocular surface morphogenesis and its ablation leads to damage and various eye manifestations at postnatal stages.